Sai Diaochan was so frightened that her face turned pale and she was shaking like chaff. She couldn't say a word. All she could do was kowtow repeatedly and beg for mercy. "Sir, please forgive me. Sir, please forgive me. I know I'm wrong. I know I'm wrong."

She also didn't expect that Xiang Nan would actually donate all the gift money he received, which amounted to thousands of taels of snowflakes and silver, which was probably enough for him, a cook, to earn a lifetime.

She also did not expect that Lou Zhixian did not keep the money secretly, but actually put it into the county treasury, and was really planning to benefit the people of Qixia Town. This was completely beyond her knowledge.

"Humph, according to the Ming Dynasty Law, you falsely accused the magistrate of Lou County of accepting bribes in the name of nephew Li Xiulian's wedding. You will be charged with the third degree. A hundred sticks will cost you three thousand miles." The magistrate immediately pronounced the sentence, "Another sentence, and Li Xiulian will be compensated two thousand miles."

Thousands and five hundred taels of silver."

Hearing the prefect's sentence, Sai Diaochan was so frightened that she lost her wits.

A hundred sticks are enough to travel three thousand miles. With a body as fragile as hers, she would probably die if she couldn't get ten sticks. Even if she barely managed to get a hundred sticks, she would still die on the road after being exiled for three thousand miles.

"Sir, please have mercy, but this little girl will never dare to do it again. Sir, please have mercy, but this little girl will never dare to do it again." She kowtowed repeatedly, breaking her forehead.

As for Xiaocui, she was so frightened that she froze and had no idea of ​​begging for mercy.

"Sir, since she is young and ignorant, and this is her first offender, please be kind and spare her this life." Seeing this, Magistrate Lou couldn't bear it, and begged the magistrate.

"Mr. Lou County, do you know that if the crime of accepting bribes is found out, according to the Ming Dynasty Law, you will be sentenced to skinning and pulling grass." The magistrate reminded.

The Ming Dynasty severely punished officials for corruption and bribery, let alone bribes exceeding two thousand taels. Even a few hundred taels of silver was enough to be skinned and stripped.

"Xiaguan understands." Lou Zhixian bowed and said, "But as the official of Qixia Town, Xiaguan did not educate the people well, nor did he take precautions in advance against possible misunderstandings. It is all Xiaguan's fault.

Please, Lord Magistrate, please be patient."

"Okay, for the sake of your pleading, the cane and exile will be waived, but the fine still needs to be paid as a warning to others." The prefect then announced the verdict.

Although Sai Diaochan suffered from the pain of two thousand five hundred taels of silver, she was very lucky to have escaped death. As for the money, it was fined, and she could earn it in the future.

"Zhixian Lou, you love the people like your own children, and you are so self-reflective that I really admire you." The magistrate nodded and said, "Li Xiulian, you are generous and caring for the people, and I admire you very much.

You two have been wronged this time. I hope you will not be discouraged, continue to be a good official, continue to be a good person, and do not be influenced by evil villains."

"Thank you for your advice, sir!" Xiang Nandu, the magistrate of Lou County, saluted.

Subsequently, the prefect announced his resignation.

…

Sai Diaochan's master and servant were escorted by official officials and went to Yihong Tower to pay a fine of 2,500 taels.

As a creditor, Xiang Nan went with the team.

In fact, he knew that Sai Diaochan was bankrupt, he just didn't want to miss the look on her face when she learned the truth.

Along the way, when the people in the town saw Sai Diaochan, they all pointed and whispered, probably talking about the bankruptcy of Yihong Tower.

But Sai Diaochan had just escaped a disaster at this time, and even though she was in a nervous mood, she had no energy to pay attention to these things.

All the way to Yihong Building, Sai Diaochan saw the restaurant that looked like a dilapidated kiln. She was stunned for a moment, and then she rushed in as if she was crazy. She looked around and saw that nothing was there.

The glass lampshades, jade vases, celadon dishes, calligraphy and paintings by famous people, even the tables, chairs and benches were all gone. The maids, cooks, and entertainers were all gone too. Everything was hollowed out.

"How could this happen to my people and my things? How could this happen?" Sai Diaochan shouted at the top of her lungs, unbelievable at what she saw.

Her shout attracted everyone from the Tongfu Inn opposite.

Everyone looked at the crazy Sai Diaochan and couldn't help but show unbearable expressions.

"No need to shout, let me tell you." Xiang Nan walked up and told the story of how the Yihong Building lobby manager tried to attract customers and compared with Tong Xiangyu to deliver things, which resulted in the Yihong Building being evacuated.

After Sai Diaochan heard this, he was stunned.

Giving every customer twenty taels of silver tattoo, no wonder his store was vacated. What kind of manager did he hire? He is so stupid.

But there is no point in blaming her at this time. It is estimated that she was either snatched away or ran away long ago. Will she still stay and wait for her punishment?

The money and belongings that were robbed were probably never wanted back. On the one hand, the lobby manager had something to say, but on the other hand, she didn’t know who had robbed them and who they were asking for.

"If I were here today, I would definitely not let her scream. Who asked me to go to Fucheng to file a complaint?" Sai Diaochan suddenly thought again, and then she burst into tears, "This is retribution, retribution."

She originally wanted to harm others, but ended up going bankrupt. It was really retribution!

…

"Shopkeeper Sai, if you can't hand over the two thousand five hundred taels of silver, you have no choice but to come with me again." At this time, the official came forward again.

He was responsible for supervising Sai Diaochan's compensation of 2,500 taels of silver to Xiang Nan. Now that Yihong Tower collapsed and there was no money to compensate, naturally he couldn't let it go like this.

Sai Diaochan's master and servant were then taken back.

When Lou Zhixian heard that Sai Diaochan's Yihong Building had been evacuated because of giving away things, he couldn't help but sigh.

If she harms others, she will end up harming herself, and this is her retribution.

"Since we can't pay the fine, we can only sell your master and servant, and all the money obtained will be compensated to Li Xiulian." Magistrate Lou then ruled.

If you can't pay, you hand it over to someone else. In ancient times, many people sold themselves or were sold into slavery by the government because of debts, lack of livelihood, or even criminal punishment.

Like Diaochan, Xiaocui knew how miserable the end would be if she was sold as a slave, a maid, or even a prostitute, but there was nothing she could do at this time.

"Master Li, Brother Li, please show your noble hand and save us." In desperation, Sai Diaochan thought of Xiang Nan beside her, and quickly pulled Xiaocui to kneel down and kowtow, "Please accept us, we will do it for you."

You are acting like a cow or a horse, please, please.”

Since Xiang Nan is willing to donate money to the people, he is obviously not a mean person. If he is sold to him as a slave, he will not be treated harshly. Even if they retaliate against him and deny them food and clothing, it is much better than being sold to a brothel.

Once inside, they would truly fall into a pit of fire, where life would be worse than death.

Xiang Nan saw this, thought about it, and finally nodded.

He was not interested in the beauty of Sai Diaochan and Xiao Cui, but in Sai Diaochan's business talent.

Tong Xiangyu praised his business skills, but when Tongfu Inn was doing its best, the daily profit was only six taels of silver. However, Sai Diaochan's Yihonglou could earn dozens of taels of silver a day.

It can be seen that Sai Diaochan's business methods are much better than Tong Xiangyu's. Beautiful women are easy to find, as long as you have money, you can always get them, but talented professional managers are difficult to find.
Chapter completed!